Not only do they not wear red lipstick, they don’t wear red nail polish, either.

I will never forget shopping in the Monoprix on rue de Seine (I think) for Bourjois (the second Chanel brand). I was picking out various red polishes when a French woman approached me and said “French women never wear red nail polish except possibly for a fete and then only one night. It comes off the very next day and is replaced with pale color—c’est plus naturale, n’est-ce pas?”

On my first visit to Paris, I went to Pere Lachaise and that is where I saw red lipstick in the form of lipstick kiss prints all over the gravestone of Oscar Wilde. A lady from England asked me, "Why would women love Oscar Wilde so?" I told her that it probably wasn't women but gay men Rouge-ing up, kissing the tomb and then wiping it off.So, French women don't wear red lipstick but French drag queens and lover's of wit do!!!Cheers,Stephan

Yes, I 've seen plenty of red in France...esp. when I lived there & now here...but not as an every day slick of red as so many people think/have written. Also it depends on age. Red lipstick can be aging & so when the young girls wear it with a ponytail or messy bun, etc. & no other makeup it can be charming. when older it can look too-too. whatever, I keep some on hand, just in case (& mix it with clear/or pink & brush it on.) Like who cares what I do...but that's what goes on.

Someone hasn't seen "any" French women wearing red? Well, they do. Just not as much as the cliche would have it......

Bonjour !I'm French (that explains my bad English) and I really appreciate your "regard" on Paris and the Parisians ;-) And, yes, we (=I) don't wear red lipstick on day...sometimes on night...or after 50 years old !

You're so right. I first noticed the light touch make-up wise on the news anchors. They look so stylish and put together without all that dramatic make up.Gorgeous post! I'm going to have to change into a red shirt now! All that color is so pretty!

Wonderful post! I saw the same Rouge Coco ad at the bus stop on 2nd and 68th and just had to have the color. It's so beautiful. Especially on fair skin.

Red looks amazing with VERY minimal eye makeup if you have the time to properly apply it and it's the right shade. If not it can just look so garish. Definitely not something for every day (guys really do hate the crap we put on our faces!), but for a special night out it can make all the difference in the world.

Angela Angela Angela!HollywoodBroadwayHey the Red Carpet Of course they slather their lips with red paint.They have to POP!I'm talking street wear here.PSI DID buy a CHANEL LIPSTICK while in Paris...You HAVE too, right?

I have a couple of sacred Hermes Rouge lipsticks - one matte full coverage and the other a transparent red veil - both are worn and neither look gauche. You can't wear full make up and red lips, your skin must be clean and radiant. Too many English and American wannabes try to look French but give the game away by not speaking the language or getting the look completely wrong, as if they have some idealised image of what the French are like. If you aren't French we can tell by clothes, weight, and multitude of other tells... just be you, you are a tourist after all!